This is not an updated edition! Because of the many topics that appear in this book, it was decided to split the book into two parts, make corrections and more. You can now purchase the Second Edition: Understanding physics-mechanics I (earlier chapters from the first edition + corrections + chapter summaries) Understanding physics mechanics II (later chapters from the first edition + new chapter + corrections + chapter summaries).

The use of narratives in social science research has increased enormously during recent decades, and has generated theoretical developments and fascinating empirical insights that have crystallized into an overall "narrative turn". Written and oral stories, diaries and interviews, serve as central channels in narrative research, supplying a multilayered glimpse into personal identities as well as into the social and cultural realities in which people live and develop. In the chapters of this book, Israeli researchers from various disciplines tackle theoretical, methodological, and applicable issues associated with narrative research. Diverse aspects are discussed: What is a narrative and why is it perceived as a central channel for our experiences and identities and for the meanings we ascribe to ourselves and to our world? What is "narrative thinking"? Is narrative research a paradigm? What distinguishes narrative research from other types of qualitative research? How are narrative research and feminism connected? The chapters of this book also deal with the complex relationship between narrative researchers and their research participants - the narrators - and with issues associated with the interpretation of narratives and the rich world of "narratives in action" in a variety of life domains.

Game theory is a mathematical discipline that deals with the modeling and the analysis of interactive decision situations. Such situations involve several decision makers that have different goals, and the decision of each one of them may affect the other decision makers. The theory originated in the 1940s, and since then it has been applied in many areas , like economics, biology, computer science, and political science. The book is especially well adapted to teaching: classical mathematical results are presented with mathematical completeness and rigor. The teacher will find all the material necessary for a mathematical understanding of the theory, without any need to use other sources. In addition, the book is replete with exercises of varying levels of difficulty, starting with easy exercises for beginners and ending with difficult ones suited for Ph.D. students.